So grab a glass of milk and get ready to indulge in some cookie bliss!

Classic Chocolate Chip

Let’s start with the all-time classic: chocolate chip cookies. Is there anything more comforting than biting into a warm, chewy cookie studded with melty chocolate chips? Whether you prefer them soft and chewy or crispy around the edges, chocolate chip cookies are a timeless treat that never fails to hit the spot.

Decadent Double Chocolate

For the chocoholics out there, double chocolate cookies are the ultimate indulgence. These rich, fudgy delights are made with cocoa powder and chocolate chips, resulting in a double dose of chocolatey goodness in every bite. Pair them with a tall glass of cold milk for a truly heavenly experience.

Zesty Lemon

If you’re craving something a little lighter and brighter, why not try lemon cookies? These citrus-infused treats are bursting with tangy flavor and are the perfect antidote to a dreary day. With their delicate crumb and refreshing zest, lemon cookies are sure to lift your spirits and leave you feeling refreshed.

Nutty Peanut Butter

For a satisfying blend of salty and sweet, look no further than peanut butter cookies. With their rich, nutty flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, these cookies are a perennial favorite for good reason. Whether you enjoy them plain or adorned with a chocolate kiss, peanut butter cookies are sure to delight your taste buds.

Exotic Coconut

Transport your taste buds to a tropical paradise with coconut cookies. These chewy delights are packed with shredded coconut and are perfect for anyone who loves the taste of the tropics. Close your eyes and imagine yourself lounging on a sandy beach as you bite into one of these irresistible treats.

Canadian Maple

For a taste of true Canadian hospitality, you can’t go wrong with maple cookies. Made with real maple syrup, these sweet treats have a rich, caramel-like flavor that is truly irresistible. Whether you enjoy them plain or sandwiched together with creamy filling, maple cookies are a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Spiced Gingerbread

Embrace the cozy comforts of the holiday season with gingerbread cookies. These warmly spiced treats are perfect for enjoying by the fireside with a cup of hot cocoa. With their fragrant blend of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, gingerbread cookies are sure to evoke fond memories of holidays past.

Tips for Perfect Cookies Every Time

Now that we’ve explored some mouthwatering cookie flavors, let’s talk about how to ensure your cookies turn out perfect every time. Here are a few tips to help you become a cookie-baking pro:

1. Use quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients can make a big difference in the flavor and texture of your cookies. Invest in high-quality butter, chocolate, and other key ingredients for best results.
2. Don’t overmix: Overmixing your cookie dough can lead to tough, dry cookies. Mix your ingredients until just combined to ensure a tender texture.
3. Chill your dough: Chilling your cookie dough before baking can help prevent spreading and result in thicker, chewier cookies. Simply cover your dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before baking.
4. Use a cookie scoop: Using a cookie scoop ensures that your cookies are uniform in size, which helps them bake evenly. It also makes the process faster and less messy!
5. Mind your baking time: Keep a close eye on your cookies while they’re baking to prevent them from over- or undercooking. Remember, cookies will continue to cook slightly after you remove them from the oven, so it’s better to err on the side of underbaking if you prefer softer cookies.

FAQs

Q: Can I freeze cookie dough? A: Yes, you can freeze cookie dough for future baking. Simply portion the dough into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a resealable plastic bag and store them in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake, simply place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Q: How long do cookies stay fresh? A: Cookies are best enjoyed fresh from the oven, but they will stay fresh for several days if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also freeze cookies for longer storage—simply place them in a resealable plastic bag and store them in the freezer for up to three months.

Q: Can I customize cookie recipes? A: Absolutely! Feel free to get creative and customize your cookie recipes to suit your taste preferences. Experiment with different mix-ins, flavorings, and toppings to create your own signature creations.

Conclusion

And there you have it— a delicious journey through the world of cookies! Whether you’re a fan of classic chocolate chip or looking to try something new like Canadian maple, there’s a cookie flavor out there to satisfy every craving. So why not roll up your sleeves, preheat the oven, and whip up a batch of your favorite cookies today? Your taste buds will thank you!

The post Cookie Heaven: Irresistible Cookie Flavors to Satisfy Every Craving appeared first on InstantELLA.

However, do remember that it’s okay to treat yourself now and then, as long as it’s in moderation.

Don’t Splurge

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There’s going to be a ton of super good food during your holiday gatherings, but that doesn’t mean that you have to eat it all. Just remember to be mindful while you are eating, eat slowly, and recognize when you start to get full. When are full, or close to it, stop eating. That’s the hardest part – resisting the urge to splurge on all of the good food. If it helps, just pack a plate of leftovers for later that you can enjoy when you’re hungry again.

Bring Food

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This is where that planning comes in. Most people bring at least one dish to their holiday gatherings, so you can use that as an opportunity to bring something healthy (and delicious) that fits within your diet. You might find that others are really appreciative of the healthy choice too. If you can, bring a couple of items that you can keep going back to throughout the day.

Choose Healthier Options

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Besides brings your own food, it’s likely that there will already be some healthier options at the parties as well. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes (not too much though), veggies trays, meats and cheeses, fruits, and salads are all healthier options that tend to make an appearance for large holiday meals. Eat more of the healthy options and moderate the less healthy options.

Have a Treat Day

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Maybe for the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, you need to have a treat day. If there’s a day when your family or friends are having a get-together, make that you designated treat day to allow yourself some yummy holiday indulgences. Just be sure to reign it in and stick to your diet outside of the treat days that you’ve chosen.

Drink Water

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With all of the drink options available at big gatherings, it’s always best to stick to water – especially if you want to allow yourself more indulgences where food is concerned. Mixed alcoholic drinks, eggnogs, and sparkling beverages tend to have a lot of calories and sugar, so if you choose water instead, you can eat more of the food you enjoy within your diet’s restrictions. Also, drinking plenty of water will help fill you up before you eat too much too and it helps regulate your system as you deter from your standard diet.

Don’t Skip Breakfast

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On the day of a huge feast, make sure you still have a small breakfast or morning snack. If you go to a holiday gathering hungry, you’ll likely eat a lot quicker (and thus more) than your body should have in one sitting. This will help you be more mindful and be able to recognize when you are full, rather than going into full-on binge mode.

Enjoy Yourself

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This is so important! Allow yourself to have a piece of pie or some warm buttery rolls. You should enjoy your time with family, and food can play a huge part of that! Don’t go overboard, but give yourself a little leeway during this time of year.

If you’re concerned about your health through the holidays, you can always ask your family doctor to help you come up with a game plan to make it through without giving up on your endeavors.

The post How To Eat Healthy Through the Holidays appeared first on InstantELLA.

It’s dinner time. You are starving, your family is starving, and they expect you to whip up something tasty and delicious, and quickly.

Chicken, beef, or another main entree is an easy given, but what else can you throw together with them?

Luckily there is something that will go easily with any meat, something that can be made several different ways that are bound to satisfy all members of your family. And that something is a potato.

Here are five reasons that potatoes are always going to be dinner’s delectable best friend and something you can always count on when it comes to preparing any meal.

1) They are healthy

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Not only are potatoes easy to make and taste really good, they are also very healthy.

There are so many simple healthy potatoes recipes out there that taste good but deliver the nutrients you want your family to get with every meal.

Depending on the type of potato you choose to make, each has its own nutritional value. Sweet potatoes, for example, are jam-packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, Vitamin E, calcium, and Iron.

Red potatoes have a lot of the same nutrients, but their skin is especially nutritious with large amounts of fiber and B Vitamins.

2) The possibilities are endless

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As was mentioned before, one of the greatest parts of potatoes is their versatility.

You can make them into soup, mash them, bake them, dice them and cover them with cheese. Whatever your heart’s desire, there is probably a simple healthy potato recipe to satisfy it.

3) Solution for picky eaters

Julie’s Potato Salad is my go-to summer side dish! Ever the pickiest eaters love these simple, classic flavors!

Because potatoes are so versatile even your most picky eater will have a version of potatoes that they enjoy eating.

You could say the potatoes are a really great “safe” food because you know when you prepare it everyone is going to be happy and eat and enjoy the food you prepared.

They are the best foods to personalize to your own individual taste, because you can start them off plain but add all the flavors and toppings you want, ensuring it will taste good and be eaten.

4) Easy on the tummy

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If you or any of your family are having stomach problems potatoes are a great solution.

As mentioned before, potatoes are filled with many beneficial nutrients and are made up of mostly water, making them very easy to digest. So if there is a stomach bug plaguing your house or if someone always has a sensitive stomach, potatoes are the answer.

5) Easy on the wallet

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One reason that potatoes could be on the dinner menu pretty often is that they are a pretty inexpensive side dish.

It’s easy to buy potatoes in large quantities for a really affordable price. Also, most potatoes are available year round, although they are even cheaper during potato harvesting season, which is usually early fall.

This also means that potatoes are a great option if you have to feed a lot of people but don’t want to spend a ton of money, hence why you see so many potato dishes served around the holidays.

The post Why Potatoes Are Dinner’s Best Friend? appeared first on InstantELLA.

We’ve taken some classic holiday desserts and found wonderful low-sugar or even sugar-free versions of the recipe that all of your guests are sure to love.

Low-Fat Apple Pie

Cut some calories, but reminisce in this classic, because it’s just as good as it’s sugar-filled counterpart. This low-fat apple pie uses all of the traditional ingredients of an apple pie, but eliminates added sugar. You can use Splenda to add some sweetness to your tangy apples, or just use naturally sweet apples, like Honeycrisps.

Find the full recipe at Spark Recipes.

Low-Sugar Apple Cranberry Sauce

You can’t have Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce! But it’s always loaded with sugar because cranberries can get pretty tart. This wonderful substitute to traditional cranberry sauce uses apples to sweeten up the cranberries, and significantly less sugar than you would use if the apples weren’t there. What a great, and yummy, way to cut out some sugar!

Find the full recipe at The Foodie and The Fix.

Low Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

Take a spin on a classic and give this pumpkin cheesecake mousse a whirl. It’s gluten-free, keto compliant, and it only takes 5 minutes to make! What about that doesn’t sound like the perfect Thanksgiving dessert? All you need is cream cheese, heavy cream, canned pumpkin, spices and vanilla.

Find the full recipe at Sugar-Free Mom.

Sugar-Free Candied Pecans

All you need for this yummy treat is some pecans, butter, and a sweetener of your choice. This recipe uses Swerve because it caramelizes nicely. This is another recipe that is quick to make, so you don’t have to spend hours slaving away for a perfectly delicious treat.

Find the full recipe at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn’t love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies? This is recipe is gluten-free and sugar-free, and it is sure to wow your guests. You can certainly get your healthy dose of pumpkin spice this holiday season with these delightful treats.

Find the full recipe at My Montana Kitchen.

The post Sweet Indulgence! 5 Low-Sugar, Easy-To-Make Thanksgiving Desserts appeared first on InstantELLA.